Filter



May 7, 1946.

G. E. OLSON FILTER Filed July 17, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. E. OLSON May 7, 1946.

FILTER Filed July 17, 1943 3 Sheets-Shae? 2 w MN \N. I I l I l 4 1| 4 -1- im E w A Q% :l, mm A j mw INVENTOR. Geo/ye Emma,

y 46 G. E. OLSON 2,399,887

FILTER Filed July 17, 1943 5 SheetS- -Sheet 3 IIIIIIIIIIIAIYIIIIII 1 INVENTOR. 6604 96505075;

/OGOOO0O0OOO Patented May 7, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILTER George E. Olson, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 17, 1943, Serial N0. 495,391

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in filters.

More particularly the present invention relates to improvements in the type of filter in which the filtering media include springs of the type variously called coil springs, spiral springs. or, more properly, helical springs, that is-springs the coils of which are arranged like the thread of a screw. In practice such springs are placed under tension to provide each of them with a lo helical opening pe mitting the passage of liquid to be filtered. Such springs provide a suitable base for the support of filter aid, such as ,diatomaceous earth or the like, whereby efiicien't filtering may be accomplished.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved filter embodying elongated helical springs which is eflicient in operation and which may be readily cleaned when cleaning is required. I v

A further object is to provide a filter'ern'bodyone end to the remainder of the filter mechanism; and i Figure 7 is a detail of construction illustrating how coil springs are attached, at their other ends to the remainder of the "filter construction.

The numeral I indicates a receptacle of generally rectangular construction, open at the top. Said receptacle I0 is provided with the bottom wall H, the end walls l2 and l3, and the side walls It and I5. Extending from end to end of the receptacle, l0, intermediate 0! the side walls H and I5, is the stationary weir it, the upper extremity of which is located at approximately the level of the upper extremities of the side walls I and ii. The lower extremity of the fixed weir I6 is indicated by the numeral l1 and is located a material distance above the bottom wall ll.

- Said fixed weir I8 divides the receptacle in into a ing elongated helical springs having improved means for attaching said'springs to'the remainder of the filter mechanism.

7 A further object is toprovide an improved filter g embodying helical springs having readily operof simple and sturdy construction which may be readily assembled and disassembled.

A further object is to provide a filter well adapted to meet the needs of commercial operation.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings- I i Figure 1 is a top plan view of a filter embodying the principles of the present invention; Figure 2 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of the construction shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 8-3 of Fig ure 1; Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken alon the plane indicated by the arrows l-A oi Figure 3; i

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing a detail taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 5-5 of Figures 1 and 3; i K

Figure 6 represents a detail of construction illustrating how the coil springs are attached at v i u pair of compartments I8 and l9.

The end wall I! is provided near the top thereof with the inlet pipe 20 for the admission into the compartment [8 of liquid to be filtered. An overfiow ipe 2| may be provided at a higher level than the inlet pipe.

The compartment I8 is provided with the arcuate false bottom 22 extending the'length of the filter from the wall l2 to the wall l3. Said alcuate bottom 22, asshcwnin Figure 4, contacts at one of its sides with the end wall l2 and at its other side is provided with the that portion 23 bounded by the downwardly extending edge portion 24. Said fiat portion 23 is adapted to support the movable weir 25, the upper extremity of which is indicated by the numeral 28. It will be noted that the upper extremity 26 of the weir 25 is located at a higher level'than the lower extremity of the. fixed weir, It. Said weir 25 is adapted to be moved in a vertical direction and is guided in this movement by a pair of U-shaped guiding members 2l-2l secured to the end walls i2 and It or the filter. Said movable weir 25 is provided with a pair of hook members 28-28, which may be grasped by the operator ofthe filter and hooked over the upper edge or the fixed weir It. 7

The numeral 29 indicates as a whole a filter spring assembly. Said assembly includes a plurality of elongated'heiical springs Ill-"carried by the header 3| and the supporting member 32. The header 3i consists of two saucershaped members Ila-llb, each or which may have the general contour oi the supporting member 32. Said saucer-shaped members filo-Jib are secured together by means of the bolts 33 and p o.-

indicated by the numerals 7 rest on the'upwardly opening hearing vide a chamber 34. Each of the members Ila and 32 provides a continuous wall Provided with a plurality of holes, to be referred to more particularly hereinafter. 'Said walls presented toward said springs are smooth faced. The header SI and the supporting'member 32 are mounted upon the pipe 35, threaded adjacent to its extremities as indicated by the numerals SI and 31. The header 3| and the supporting member 32 are centrally apertured, the apertures being bounded by the inwardly and outwardly extending flanges 38 adapted to engage the threaded portions 38 and 31 of the pipe 8!. Nuts 38 and." cooperate with the header 3| to mount it rigidly in a predetermined position upon the pipe 35. Nuts 4| receive the tenon "of the rotatable member '2. Said rotatable member is rotatably carried by a bearing 83 comprising the plates Ila and lib adapted to be bolted on the inside and outside, respectively, of the end wall I! of the filter. Said plates Bla'and b have aligned apertures for rotatably receiving the rotatable member if.

Secured to the outer extremity of the rotatable member 82 is the crank 4 weighted to assume a pendant position. when the rotatable member 82 is free of the filter spring assembly 28 the weighted handle Bl will gravitate to a position erably disposed in parallel relationship with the axis of the pipe SI, and said pipe 35 is mounted to have a movement of rotation in a horizontal position.

The pipe 35 is roatably carried at one of its ends by a bearing indicated as a whole by the numeral N, which includes the plates a and b mounted, respectively, on the inside and outside of the end wall If. The plate a embodies a collar having a stepped bearing portion made up w of the annular portion 46 and the upwardly opening bearing portion 48. The upper boundary of the upwardly opening bearing portion 48 is in dicated in Figure 3 by the dotted line bearing the reference numeral 41. The nut 39 located upon the adjacent extremity of the pipe 38 serves as "a trunnion and is adapted to have a loose running fit within the annular bearing portion 45 of the plate Ma. Said nut 30 is stepped in diameter to provide an and bearing engaging against the adjacent face of the annular bearingpcrtion 4B. The adjacent portion of the nut II is adapted to portion 48 of the plate a. t

The right-hand extremity of the pipe SI as the parts are viewed in Figure 3 is supported by the bracket ll carried by the end wall It in a mannor to be referred to presently. Said bracket ll includes a bottom bearing portion 49 and a top bearing Blhingedly carried by the bearing portion 49, a hinge for this purpose being indicated by the numeral II. A catch member 82 is provided for releasably holding the top bearing portion 50 in cooperative relationship with the bottom bearingportion I. A nut 53 is disposed upon the end of the pipe 38 and is held firmly in position by means of the pin 54. Said nut is" provided with the annular shoulder 85 for taking up end thrust against the bearing portions 49 and II. Said, nut II has a cylindrical bearing surface and serves as a trunnion cooperating with the bearing portions 0 and BI.

Mounted in the right-hand extremity of the pipe (Fig. 3) is the plug member ll, stoppin flow of fluid through the adjacent end of said pipe. Said'plug it has a portion 5! extending beyond the end of said pipe SI, which portion II is provided with a. diametrically disposed slot 60 opening toward the right as the parts are viewed in Figure 3, and also opening at its two ends at the periphery. of said portion IS. The two parallel side walls of the slot II are adapted t Q the suction side of the pump 86 for determining through the holes 43 into the pipe 35.

to hold the tenon II in arr-upright position, The

plate '30 may constitute 'the support for the bracket 48, which supports the adjacent end of the spring assembly 28.

According to practice which is at present preferred, the liquid to be filtered is drawn from the exterior of the coll-springs ill-ll into the chamber 34 provided by the header II, thence The strained liquid is drawn on from the left-hand extremity of the pipe 35 as the parts are viewed in Figure 3 through the, conduit 85. Said conduit II leads to the pump II, the discharge side of which is connected to the conduit 01, which leads to the elbow 88. From the elbow it the filtered liquid is discharged through the conduit 89 to the machine 16 which is to be cooled and/or lubricated. From the machine 10 the liquid fouled with dirt or grit is discharged through the pipe 20 to the filter. Motive power for driving the pump 08 is supplied by the motor.1l,which, through a belt 12 or other preferred driving mechanism, communicates power to the shaft 13 of the pump 86. A pressure gauge 14 may be connected with the net force tending to move a liquid to be filtered through the elements 80-110.

Connected with the elbow $8 is the relief valve 15, which is adapted to open when the pressure applied thereto exceeds a predetermined value.

When such an excess pressure occurs the relief valve 18 will open to discharge fluid from the elbow ll back into the compartment it of the filter.

In order to mount the coil springs "-30, the cup-shaped member Ila and the supporting member 32 are provided with aligned holes, the holes in the member in being indicated by the numerals 10-18 and the holes in the member at being indicated by the numeral 11. As shown in Figure 6, the holes 1: in the cup-shaped member Ila are countersunk, as indicated by the numerals 18-18. The convolutions of each coil spring II at the left end thereof as the parts are viewed in Figures 3 and 6 are flared outwardly as indicated by the numeral 19, this flaring bein done before the spring is finally tempered. Each spring 30 is sleeved within an auxiliary spring II of short length, a few convolutions of the spring II at the left end thereof being fiared outwardly as indicated by the numeral II; but adapted to lie against the countersunk wall 18 of the corresponding hole 1.. The outward flaring of the end convolutions of the short spring II, as indicated by the numeral 8|, will also be done prior to the final tempering of the corresponding spring 8|. Each of the springs .80 will act as a protective sleeve for its corresponding spring 30, and the outwardly flared portions 8l-ll thereof will effectively serve as abutments to hold the corresponding springs 30 in proper relationship with acorresponding member 31a. p v Mounted within each of the holes 11 in the supporting member 32 is a machine screw 32 having a shank of sumcient size to screw within the corresponding end of a. coil spring 30, expanding the convolutions of the corresponding coil spring 30 sufliciently to provide a firm grip. A certain amount of adjustment of tension upon each coil spring 30 is possible by rotation of the corresponding screw 32.

The numeral 33 indicates a scraper adapted to scrape grit, sludge or the like transversely of the arcuate bottom 22 of the compartment l3. This scraper is an elongated member secured to the header 3| and the supporting member 32 in parallel relationship with the axis of the pipe 35. Said scraper 33 has portions 34-34 extending beyond the header 3| and the supporting member 32. As will be explained presently, the scraper 83 is so located as to facilitate the mounting and dismounting of the filter spring assem'- bly 23.

The mode of operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention will be clear without detailed explanation. It'may be stated briefly that the filter spring assembly 29 may be built up independently of the receptacle l0, the springs 30 being cut approximately to qual lengths, the header 3| and the supporting member 32 being mounted upon the pipe 35, the springs 30 being mounted within said headers 3| and 32, and the headers 3| and 32 being spaced apart a sufllcient distance to apply the required tension to the coil springs 30-30 to provide the desired width of helical opening within each of said springs 30-30. Before or after the mounting of the assembly 23 within the machine, any slight inaccuracy in the helical opening in any spring 30 may be corrected by operation of the corresponding machine screw 82. The spacing between the header 3| and the supporting member 32 and correspondingly the width of helical openings in the springs 30-30 may be adjusted by operation of the nuts II and 42. The scraper 33 will be secured in position, and the operator, by grasping the scraper 83, will lower the filter spring assembly 29 into the compartment l3. At this time the upper bearing portion 50 will have been released and swung back out of obstructing relationship with the lower bearing portion 43 of the bracket 43. At this time the weightof the crank 54 biases the rotatable member 52 into a position such that the tenon 5| is upright. The operator will slip the left-hand end of the nut 33 within the bearing portion 45 of the plate la,.and will allow the right-hand end of the filter spring assembly to descend. The scraper 83 is located in the diameter of the assembly 23, which is symmetrical with the slot 50, and accordingly the slot 50 will be inposition to receive the tenon of the rotatable member 52.. The upper bearing portion 50 will then be swung into operative position and will be latched in that position by means of the latch member 52. The movable weir 25 will be located in itslowermostposition, resting upon the flat portion 23 of the false bottom 22.

Liquid to be filtered will enter the compartment [8 of the filter l0 through the pipe 20 and will flow in a tortuous path under the lower edge of the fixed weir 5, over-the upper edge of the movable weir 25, into the compartment l3. According to standard filtration practice, the filter media 30-30 will be pre-coated with filter aid, which may take the form of diatomaceous earth or other well known filter aid.

The motor II will operate the pump 55, whereby suction will be applied to the conduit 35 and pipe 35. By reason of reduced pressure in the conduit 55 and pipe 35, liquid will be drawn through the helical interstices of the springs I 30-30 and through thefilter aid pre-coat encompassing said springs 30-30. The filtered liquid will be drawn into the chamber 35 of the header 3| through the pipe 55 to the pump 55, and will be discharged through the pipe 51 and pipe 53 back to the machine or other device 10 where the liquid is being used.

A common field 01 application of the present invention'will be to the filtering of liquids used in the cooling or lubrication, or both, of a machine such for example as a grinding machine. The cooling or lubricating liquid, after having been fouled in the 'machine 10, will gravitate through the pipe 20 back to the compartment l8 of the filter l0.v

20 If for any reason the operator should stop the supply of liquid from the conduit 59 to the machine 10 without stopping the motor 1|, pressure will build up sumciently to open the relief valve 15, whereby liquid discharged from the pump 55 through the conduit 51 will discharge through the relief valve into the receptacle l0.

By reason of the overfiow outlet 22, any problems due to extra rapid entry of fluid through the conduit will be obviated.

When the filter springs -30 tend to become clogged with dirt or the like, said springs may I be efficiently cleaned by the mere expedient of rotating the handle 54.

stopped at this time, whereby to'discontinue the suction applied to the pipe 35, and the movable v weir 25 will be moved upwardly, thehooks 20-28 being disposed upon the upper extremity of the fixed weir l5. Movement of the coil springs 30-30 through the liquid in the compartment l3 will result in the extending of said springs 30-3 0, due in part to their inertia and in part to the drag applied thereto by the liquid in the compartment l9. Filter cake upon the springs 30-30 will be broken up and dislodged from the springs 30-30, dropping to theialse bottom 22. The scraper 83, moving in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4, will scrape the sludge across the arcuatebottom 22, moving most of it past the flat portion 23 thereof into-the bottom of preferred to discharge fouled liquid by gravity from the machine which is being cooled or lubricated. By reason of the horizontal disposition of the springs 30-30, the'length thereof is not limitedby the height of the machine with which it is associated. A further decided advantage accruing from the,horizontally disposed position of the filter springs 30-30. is that such disposition minimizes the clogging effects of the materials filtered out of the liquid.

Though a pr ferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed 'in. detail, many modifications will occur .to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

The motor II will be compartment l3, whence it may be removed by any preferred means. The movable weir 25 will What is claimed is:

1. In a filter, in combination, a header, a pipe said pipe communicating with said chamber, supporting means carried by'said pipe in'spaced relationship with said header, a plurality of helical springs supported at their-ends by said header asaaosr meansdividing saidreceptacle into a plurality oi compartments, said weir means including a fixed weir member and a movable weir member.

. fixed weir member, to cause liquid in passing to and said supporting means,'the interiors of said coil springs communicating through said. perforations with said chamber and said pipe, said pipe and said coil springs having their axes horizontally disposed, said. pipe being rotatablymounted, and means for. rotating said pipe, saidheader, said supporting means and said springs. 2. In a filter, in combination, a header, a pipe carrying said header, said header comprising a chamber having a continuous wall provided with a plurality of perforations distributed from a region" adjacent to said pipe to a region adjacent to the periphery of said header, the interior of said pipe communicating with said chamber, sup-- porting means carried by said pipe in spaced relationship with said header, a plurality of hellcal springs supported at their ends by said header and said supporting means, the interiors of said coil springs communicating through said per-- forations with said chamber and said pipe, said pipe and said coil springs having their axes horizontally disposed, said pipe. being rotatably mounted, means for rotating said pipe,- said header, said supportingmeans and said springs,

. and threaded means for adjusting the distance between said header and said supporting means. 3. In a filter, in combination, a header, a pipe carrying said header, said header comprising a chamber having a continuous wall provided with a plurality of perforations distributed from a region adjacent to said pipe to a region adjacent to the periphery of said header. the interior 0! said pipe communicating with said chamber, supporting means carried by said pipe in spaced relationship with said header, a plurality of helical and said supporting means, the interiors or said coil springs communicating through said periorations with said chamber and said Pip said pipe and said coil springs having their 'axes horizontally disposed, said pipe being rotatably mounted, means for rotating said pipe, said header, said supporting means and said springs, and threaded means for adjusting the distance between said-header and said supporting means.

4. In a filter, in combination, a p pe. a header carried by .said pipe, said header comprising a chamber having a continuous wall provided with a plurality of perforations distributed from a region adjacent to said pipe to a region adjacent to the periphery of said header, supporting means carried by said pipe in spaced relationship with said header, said chamber commimicating with the interior ot-said pipe,'and a plurality otcoii springs carried at their ends by said well oi .said header andby said supportingmeans, the interiors of said springs communicating through said perforations withheld ,chamber. said pipe being rotatably mounted,.and meant-for rotat- W ing said header. said manor-t s mm and said springs, said supporting means being provided with screw-threaded means .t into the corresponding ends or said sprin 7 5. In a filter, incombination, preceptaclo said movable weir member in its operative position being adapted, in combination with said one-oi said compartments from the other of said compartments to take a tortuous path, said one compartment being a settling compartment and having an arcuate bottom, a filter assembly mounted in said one compartment, said assembly being rotatably mounted about an axis coaxial with said arcuate bottom, said axis being horizontally disposed, said assembly being provided with scraper means adapted to clean sludge oi! said arcuate bottom, said movable weir mem-: ber being adapted to be moved out of adjacency with said arcuate bottom to permit said scraper means to pass sludge from said arcuate bottom.

6. In a filter, in combination, a receptacle, weir means dividing said receptacle into a plurality of compartments, said weir means including a 4 fixed weir member and a movable weir member.

said movable weir member in its operative position being adapted, in combination with said fixed weir member, tocause liquid in passing to one of said compartments from the other of said. compartments to take a tortuous path, said one said arcuate bottom to permit said scraper means springs supported at their ends by said header to pass sludge from id arcuate bottom, said assembly including a plurality of coil springs comprising filtering members disposed in parallel relationship with said axis.

7. In a filter, in combination, a receptacle, bearings carried by said receptacle, a removable filter assembly adapted to be carried by said bearings, said filter assembly having trunnions located at its ends, one of said trunnions being adapted to be slipped endwise into one of said bearings, the other of said bearings having a readily removable portion adapted to permit the lowering of the other of said trunnions into said other bearing, said bearings being positioned to limit end thrust of said filter assembly.

.8.'In a filter, in combination, a container, a pair of bearings carried by said container, 9. filter assembly having a pair of trunnions adapted to cooperate with said bearings, the a ds of said filter assembly being horizontally disposed, said con tainer having an arcuate bottom coaxial with respect to said axis, said filter assembly having a scraper member parallel with said axis and adapted to cooperate with said arcuate bottom ior cleaning purposes, said scraper member being adapted to be grasped by an operator'ior supportingsaid assembly from above,;a rotatable member carried by said container. said rotatable member and the adjacent extremity of said filter,

assembly being provided with cooperating teach and slot means, and crank means ior said rotatable me'mberadapted to bias said rotatable member to a predetermined position, said tencn and slot means being vertically disposed when said rotatable member is in biased position and when said'filter assembly is supported from above by. said scraper.

assess? interior of said header through said perforations,

said pipe being rotatably mounted, means for rotating said pipe, said header, said supporting means and said springs, and pump means communicating with the interior of said pipe for drawing liquid from said container through the interstices of said springs and for delivering filtered liquid to a point of use.

, 10. In a filter, in combination, an assembly of helical filter springs, a header for supporting adjacent ends of saidsprings, supporting means for carrying the other ends of said springs, said header having apertures for receiving said springs, said springs having their extremities flared at the region of application to said header,

and sleeves encompassing said springs adjacent ta said flared extremities, said sleeves having flared extremities whereby to form anchoring means for said springs to hold said springs in said header.

ii, in a filter, in combination, an assembly of helical filter springs, a header for supporting adjacent ends of said springs, supporting means for carrying the other ends or said springs, said header having apertures for receiving said springs, said springs having their extremities flared at the region of application to said header, and

sleeves encompassing said springs adjacent to said flared extremities, said sleeves having flared extremities whereby to form anchoring means for said springs to hold said springs in said header,

said sleeves comprising-coil spring members.

it. In a ter, in combination, a container, a filter assembly located in said container, said filter assembly including a pipe, a plurality oi helicai springs and means for supporting said springs in parallel relationship with said pipe and for providing communication between the interior oi said springs and the interior of said pipe, plug means for stopping one end of said pipe, means for applying suction to the other end of said pipe, means for rotatably mounting said pipe, said container having an arcuate bottom coaxially disposed with respect to the axis of said pipe, a scraper movable with said pipe and adapted to scrape material across said arcuate bottom, said scraper being adapted to be grasped by an operator for supporting said assembly from above, a rotatable member carried by said container, and a crank attached to said rotatable member and adapted to bias said rotatable member to a predetermined position, said rotatable member and said plug member having cooperating slot and tenon means adapted to be aligned when said assembly is supported from above by said scraper and said rotatable member is in biased position.

13. In a filter, in combinatlomacontainer, a

filter assembly located in said container, said filter assembly including a pipe, a plurality of helical springs and means for supporting said springs in parallel relationship with said pipe and for providing communication between the interior of said springs and the interior of said pipe, means for applying suction to said pipe to draw liquid from said container through said springs, means for rotatably mounting said pipe, said assembly being provided with grip means adapted to be grasped by an operator for supporting said assembly from above, a rotatable member carried by said container, and means biasing said rotatable member to a predetermined position, said rotatable member and said assembly having cooperating slot and tenon means adapted to be aligned when said assembly is supported from above by said grip means and said rotatable member is in biased position. i

14. A filter comprising a container, a filter assembly within said container, said filter assembly including a plurality of parallel helical springs, said springs having their lengths disposed horizontally, a smooth-faced header having perforations for receiving adjacent ends of said springs, the interior of said springs having communication with said header through perforations, means for stopping the opposite ends of said springs, means rigid with said header for holding said opposite ends in spaced relationship with one another, said filter assembly being rotatably mounted, and means for rotating said assembly for causing extension of said helical springs. I

15. A filter comprising a container, a filter assembly within said container, said filter assembly including a plurality of parallel helical springs, said springs having their lengths disposed horizontally, a smoothfaced header having perforations for receiving adjacent ends of said springs,

said header having communication with the interior of said springs through said perforations, means for stopping the opposite ends of said springs, means rigid with said header for holding said opposite ends in spaced relationship with one another, and means for revolving said assembly about a horizontal axis for extending said springs for cleaning purposes.

16. In a filter, in combination, a helical spring, a header having an aperture for receiving said spring, and a flexible sleeve within said aperture,

the extremity of said spring beingflared to'a diameter greater than the interior diameter of said sleeve, the adjacent extremity of said sleeve said sleeve, the adjacent extremity of said sleeve being flared to a diameter greater than the diameter of said aperture, said sleeve comprising a helical spring.

- GEORGE ROLSON. 

